Three candidates to battle it out for the Kibwezi votes

By DANIEL NZIA and ONESMUS NZIOKA

It is D-day for voters in Kibwezi West in Makueni County who go to polls Thursday to elect new MPs.

The battle for seat pits immediate former area MP Patrick Musimba, an independent candidate, against former MP for the larger Kibwezi Kalembe Ndile (CORD) and PICK’s Juliana Kisimbi.

The seat fell vacant after the High Court sitting in Machakos overturned  Musimba’s election following a successful petition lodged by Kalembe and another loser in the March 4 General Election, Caroline Mwelu. Kalembe, Dr Musimba and Ms Kisimbi will be battling it out for the 54,811 votes in Kibwezi West.

The Independent Electoral Commission Elections Coordinator for Lower Eastern Ruth Kulundu spent the better part of yesterday overseeing the distribution of election materials.

She said the electoral body has recruited 332 presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers and 509 polling clerks in Kibwezi West and 237 Presiding and Deputy Presiding officers and 351 polling clerks in Matungulu.

The aspirants and their campaigners wound up the hunt for votes on Tuesday with call to voters to maintain peace during the exercise.

They also called for vigilance guard against possible rigging. It is a do or die contest that has seen renewed political rivalry between CORD and the ruling Jubilee coalitions.

CORD luminaries Raila Odinga,Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula pitched tent in the constituency where they pleaded with the electorate to elect Kalembe and Mule.

Though the Jubilee top guns were not been involved the campaign, they are said to be favouring Musimba for the seat.

Juliana Kisimbi (PICK)

Born in 1976, she attended Kenya High School and holds a masters and a first degree in Business Administration from the University of ESLSCA Paris, France.

She has had fruitful career in the diplomatic world, holding several positions including Commercial Attaché, Private Sector Promotion, at the  French Embassy in Nairobi.

Currently she is the director Fungana Association Kenya, a French-based humanitarian organisation, which assists children from disadvantaged backgrounds. A first timer in politics, Kisimbi says if elected, her priority will be provision of clean water, women empowerment and fighting the human-wildlife conflicts in the area

Richard Kalembe Ndile (TIP)

Ndile was born in 1964 at Kilembe in western Uganda, where his family lived then.

He attended lower primary in Uganda before joined Emali Secondary School for his O-level.

Kalembe is a former Kibwezi MP (2002-2007), and has also previously served as Tourism and Wildlife assistant minister.

Kalembe hopes to ride on the popularity CORD enjoys in the region to clinch the seat.

His association with the common mwananchi, especially squatters, is also viewed as one of his greatest political assets.

Patrick Musimba

(Independent candidate)

Born in 1973, Musimba holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise development from JKUAT. He also has masters in the same field from JKUAT and Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Nairobi.

He has previously served as Director General of Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK). He is currently a lecturer at JKUAT.

Musimba is seeking to recapture the seat he lost after the High Court nullified his election through a petition by Kalembe Ndile and Caroline Mwelu.